Means for holding receptacles



Oct. 6, 1953 H. J. KLANTE 2,654,528

MEANS FOR HOLDING RECEPTACLES v Filed Nov. 6. 1947 2' Sheets-Sheet l lNVENTOR //KM4/v J. ALfl/vn' ATTORNEY 0d. 6, 1953 v KLANTE 2,654,628

MEANS FOR HOLDING RECEPTACLES Filed NOV. 6. 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 6, 1953 NITED STATES PAT QFF ICE MEANS FOR HOLDING BECEPTACIZES Herman J. Klante, New York, N. Y., assignor to Lily-Tulip Cup Corporation, New York, Y.,

a'corpo'ration of Delaware Application November 6, 1947, Serial-No.i784,429

4 Claims. (Cl. 294"87..2 8)

The present invention relates to means for holding receptacles, and, more particularly to a novel device for holding receptacles, such, for example, as holders for -.disposa'ble cups, so that they .may be filled and carried conveniently.

Disposable cups of the quality or grade used for serving liquids restaurants, bars and soda fountains are usually constructed of paper and are not provided with a base part so as to be self-supporting. Nor are these cups provided with anything usable as a handle. Since the cups are not self-supporting they require a holder, which, for reasons of economy, is not provided with a handle. A waiter or soda dispenser cannot hold several of these cup holders while the cups are being filled or drinks are being mixed in them. Nor can hecarry several of these holders to serve an order. These circumstances also apply to receptacles or containers other than paper cups or their holders, particularly if they lack a handle and have a generally tapering configuration as will hereinafter appear.

Accordin ly, the invention has for its principal aim or object to provide a device which is capable of picking :upand firmly holding a plurality of tapering articles, such, for example, as taper- .ing receptacles *or holders for disposable cups and readily releasing them.

Another object is to provide a device .for picking up, holding and releasing a plurality of tapering, :or more specifically, conical holders for disposableicups.

A further object is to provide novel means .for picking up, holding and releasing a conical receptacle.

A still further object is to provide novel releasing means in a receptacle holder which is operable by a convenient manual release.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will, of course, become apparent and immediately suggest themselves to those skilled in the art to which the invention is directed from a reading of the following specification in connection with the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a view in perspective of a holding and carrying device embodying the invention with an article in place to illustrate the use thereof;

Fig. v2 is a view in top plan of the "device of Fig. 1.;

Fig. 3 is a view side elevation;

Fig. 4 is a view in cross-section on line 4--4 of Fig.2.;

Fig. 5 is a view in top plan of a modification;

Fig. --6 is a view incross-section'of the modified 2 device of Fig. 5, the section being taken on line 6-6;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary View cross-section taken on line 1] of 6;;

Fig. 8 is a view in top plan of a further modifica-tion;

Fig. 9 is a top plan view of a -.detail: f the modification of Fig.8; and

Figs. :10 and =11are fragmentary sections on the indicated lines of Fig. 8 showing details.

Referring to the drawing, and for the present to Figs. 1 to 4 thereof, reference character l0 indicates the holder its entirety. fIt comprises a plurality (three in the illustrative example of Fig. 1) of receptacle holding members I2, :13 and 14. These are spaced and joined -in-anyl;suitable and convenient manner, ior example by the bars l5 and H, to provide a rigid structure. A hanone .24 located approximately at the center 0f the holder All provides a convenient means ;for ananipu-la'ting and carrying it. This handle isshown in the for-m :of a pistol grip with a thumb rest 22 at its top.

The holdin members J2 to l4, the bars 2H6 :to H, th handle 2| and the thumb rest 22 maybe cast or molded in one piece, if desired. Any material is suitable, such, for example, as a metal or a plastic. The holding members are shown as lying in the same plane, but the construction of the holder it may :be such that these holders may li on or more planes to accommodate receptacles or cup holders of different heights with their bases lying substantially in the :same plane for .lflickup and release purposes as will hereinafter appear.

The members .12 to M are substantially similar in construction and, therefore, the description of one will suhice for all. The member 1:2 (and the others) is shown as being generally circular with an openi to permit passage of the ftapering body 'of a container or receptacle such, for example, as the holder 26-, selected for purposes of illustrating the invention. This holder has a tapering upper body '23 and a base portion at whichpresents la fiat resting ring or bottom sur- .face .3 I. The most constricted part 'of the holder at is indicated at as. A disposable cup is or conical shape shown as being seated in the holder 26. This cup is of the low cost type men- .tioned above is unstable and requires a holder.

The npem'ng 2.4 in each may be slightly larger between the .ends .of torWa-rd edges 38 and :39 than the most constrictedipart 33 of the holder 26. The maximum limit of the opening 24 is several degrees less than a semicircle.

The inside of each holder member is beveled as indicated at 4| to substantially the same angle as the sloping side of the receptacle part 28. It will be understood that the upper level of the bevel 4|, represented as a circle 42, may be defined by a series of points, not less than three. This is also true of circle 44 which is of lesser diameter. The members I2 to I4 may, therefore, be of skeleton form within the scope of the invention. Fig. 3 of the drawings in conjunction with the other figures shows the configuration of the end of an arm at the gap 24.

In use of the holder I9, a plurality of receptacles such, for example, as three of the cup holders 26, resting on a table or the like, may be picked up simultaneously by moving the entire holder toward the cup holders due to the fact that the openings 24 all face in the same forward direction. The holding members I2 to I4 of the "the dot-dash lines in Fig. 4. The cup holders 26 will enter the openings 24 and when the holder I9 is raised the cup holders will firmly rest in the beveled seat 4| provided for each.

To release the cup holders 26, it is only necessary to lower the holder In so that the holders 26 'rest on a table or other surface with the holding members I2 to I4 generally at the level of the constrictions 33 of each cup holder. The holder I9 may then be withdrawn away from the cup holders.

When the cup holders 26 are in the holding members I 2 to I4, they are seated firmly therein so that drinks may be mixed and stirred in each cup 36. While the seating of the cup holders is firm, they do not jam in place and the cup holders may be readily released as suggested above.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 2 and 8, it will be seen that the laterally extending series of recesses having the openings 24 are forwardly convex so that the oppositely disposed end recesses are swept back or disposed rearwardly of the intermediate recess at the center zone. This permits the device to be readily handled so as to pick up or discharge individual receptacles in desired sequence at the required location.

Figs. 5 to 7 show a modified arrangement where positive release of the carried receptacles or holders is provided. This modification, designated in its entirety by the reference character 5|, is suitable for holding and carrying single-tapered articles, such as flat bottomed cups or mugs,

tumblers or the like. The positive release feature is especially suitable for releasing such receptacles from the holder.

The holder 5| comprises a frame 53 to which are secured the relatively fixed arms 56, 5! and '58 of receptacle holding mechanisms 6|, 62 and '63.

Each of these mechanisms being similar, mechanism 6| will be described in detail. In addition to the relatively fixed arm 56, it comprises a curved, substantially rigid member 66 which is curved as shown. A swingable curved member 6! is pivoted to the member 66 by a hinge and hinge pin 69. This hinge may be of any type known to the prior art and preferably limits the inward movement of the member 6! to the position shown. The members 56, 66 and 61 define a generally closed ring within which a receptacle may be seated. A spring I2 urges the member 61 to the position shown to press against and hold a receptacle Within the ringlike opening. The members 56, 66 and 61 may be provided with an inside bevel I4 similar to the bevel 4| of the Fig. 1.

In accordance with the invention, the members 61 of the mechanisms 6| to 63 are arranged to be releasable simultaneously. Means are illustrated, by way of example, for accomplishing this purpose. As shown, a shaft I8 is rotatably mounted on the frame 53 by bearing projections or bosses '19. Each member 61 has an arm or lever 82 secured thereto which projects laterally of the holder 5|. Levers 84, one for each mechanism 6|, 62 and 63 are secured to the shaft I8. A link 86, one at each position is pivotally connected at each end to the lever 84 and the lever 82. When the shaft I8 is rocked, the member 61 will be swung to the open dotted line position (shown for the mechanism 62) to release the receptacles held by the mechanisms 6| to 63.

The means for imparting rocking movement to the shaft I8 will now be described in conjunction with a handle 89 with which it is conveniently associated. A lever 9|, for example, in the form of a finger trigger and referred to hereinafter as the trigger, is secured on the shaft I8 so as to project downwardly in front of the handle 89. The trigger 9| is preferably curved somewhat as shown so that it may be partially encircled by the forefinger of an operator while the handle 89 is grasped. A pull on this trigger releases the articles held by the mechanisms 6| to 63.

It will be seen from the foregoing that the modification of Figs. 5 to 7 may be used in the manner of the preferred holder I9 of Figs. 1 to 4. When articles, for example cup holders 26, are to be picked up by the holder 5|, the trigger 9| is pulled and when the cup holders 26 are in contact with the arms 66 to 58 of the receptacle holding mechanisms 6| to 63 and the cooperating members 66, the trigger 9| is released. The spring I2 causes the cup holders to be grasped and held until they are released by pulling the trigger 9|. It is to be noted in this connection that release of tapering articles generally, such as drinking glasses or tumblers, for example, which do not have a constricted section 33 (Fig. 4) may be accomplished.

Figs. 8 to 10 of the drawings show a modification which is similar in many respects to the modification of Figs. 5 to 7. Referring to Fig. 8, reference character 98 indicates the holder in its entirety and is seen to comprise a frame member I9I which may be curved as shown. A plurality of mechanisms I92, each designed to hold a tapering article, for example the cup holder 26, is provided. Each mechanism comprises a curved arm member I94 secured to or integral with the frame member IUI. A complementary movable member I96 completes each mechanism I92. The movable members I96 are secured upon or made integral with a bar member I98 which has the same curvature as the frame member I9I, or is straight if the latter is straight. The frame member I9I is provided with a channel or passage III within which the bar member I98 is received. A slot II2 extends along the front of the frame member I 9| to receive the bar member I98. This slot is coextensive in length with the bar member so that the latter may conveniently be inserted therein. One end II6 of the slot I98 is in the form of a recess which receives the bar member I98 when it is thrust to the right as viewed in Fig. 8. The bar member is biased to this position by a compression spring H8 in- 5 serted in a hole II 9 and held by a removable screw plug I22. A rod I24 is insertable into the hole II9 after the bar I06 is placed from the side into the slot or channel I I I.

A socket I26 receives the end I27 of the rod I24 which is insertable through the hole I I9 into the socket. The spring H8 is inserted after the rod I24 following which the screw plug I22 is threaded into the outer end of the hole H9.

The bar member I08 includes a lateral extension I28 having an opening I29 therein which receives a cam I3I having a sloping cam edge I33. The cam member is movable in a recess I36 in an enlarged part I31 of the frame I0l and is spring pressed to its upper position by a spring I 38. A plunger rod I39 provided with a thumb piece Ill serves to move the cam I3I downwardly when the thumb piece is pressed by the operator to move the bar member I08 to the left thereby to release the articles carried by the mechanisms I02.

The invention claimed is:

1. A device for releasably holding a plurality of individual holders for tapered cups, comprising a laterally extending structure provided with a laterally disposed series of recesses having their openings facing forwardly and defined by forward edges, the forward edges of recesses of said series disposed on respectively opposite sides of a central portion of said structure being rearward of the forward edges of a recess disposed at said central portion, and a handle extending rearwardly from said central portion provided with a downwardly extending grip.

2. A device for releasably holding a plurality of individual holders for tapered cups, comprising a laterally extending substantially rigid structure provided with a laterally disposed series of recesses having their openings facing forwardly, said series of recesses being inclined rearwardly from a central zone toward respectively opposite end zones to thereby dispose the recesses in rearwardly staggered relationship to facilitate discharge of said individual holders successively, and a handle extending rearwardly from said central zone provided with a downwardly extendmg grip.

3. A device for releasably carrying a plurality of individual holders for conical paper receptacles comprising a carrier frame for said holders provided with several seats for said holders, said seats each being arcuate in a horizontal plane and having open jaws facing forwardly for receiving said holders, said seats being arranged in a series with the oppositely disposed end seats of said series positioned rearwardly of an intermediate seat of said series, and a handle disposed rearwardly of the central portion of said frame and provided with a hand grip.

4. A device for releasably holding a plurality of tapered articles, comprising a laterally ex tending structure provided with a laterally disposed series of recesses having their openings facing forwardly and defined by forward edges, said structure having its forward edges on each side of a central portion of said structure disposed rearwardly with respect to the forward edges of said central portion and the recesses of said series on each side of and farther from said central portion being disposed rearwardly with respect to a recess nearer said central portion, and a handle extending rearwardly from said central portion and provided with a downwardly extending grip.

HERMAN J. KLANTE.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 117,765 Gibson Aug. 8, 1871 1,113,618 Haldeman Oct. 13, 1914 1,523,415 Goldberg Jan. 20, 1925 2,067,124 Hoffman Jan. 5, 1937 2,301,594 Voigtritter Nov. 10, 1942 2,513,762 Tyson July 4, 1950 

